TOWSON, Md. - Behind a terrific defensive effort from rookie goalkeeper and a pair of hat tricks from seniors Kelly Kimener and Jessica Noone, the Lady Monarchs dropped the Towson Tigers (6-5, 0-2) by a final score of 10-7 today. ODU improved to 7-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference with the victory and defeated the Tigers for the third time in the last four seasons.

The Lady Monarchs struggled to maintain possession early in the first half, failing three clears and turning the ball over four times in the first seven minutes, leading to a pair of Towson goals from junior attack Jacie Kendall. ODU senior Kelly Kimener would answer with 20:31 remaining in the first half and get ODU on the board with an unassisted score, but Towson would go up 3-1 with an unassisted tally from freshman Katie Cloud.

Old Dominion settled in over the next ten minutes and evened the score at three apiece with a nice cut from Jessica Noone on an assist from Nicole McMahon and an unassisted score from Saratu Dodo, scoring in her sixth straight contest.

Kimener would then give ODU its first lead of the game with 6:46 remaining in the first half after a quick pump-fake to her right, a spin and a low shot to the left side of the goal. She then notched her eighth hat trick of the season and fourth straight with another just 1:20 later to put the Lady Monarchs up 5-3.

Towson pulled back within one with 4:24 remaining with a goal from junior midfielder Steph Taylor on Meggie McNamara's second assist of the day. Then, with 2:29 remaining, Noone gave ODU the two goal lead again with an unassisted wrap-around goal for her second of the day. ODU would get a pair of good looks in the final two minutes of the half but both were saved by Tiger goalkeeper Mary Teeters and the Lady Monarchs were forced to settle for a two-goal lead, 6-4, at the break.

The second half was a back-and-forth battle, with the teams trading free-position attempt goals in the first six minutes, including Ashley Kellogg scoring her 27th of the year. Towson's Britt Woodfield then pulled the Tigers back within one with 15:52 remaining, but then Noone found herself wide open with 11:41 remaining and notched a goal for her fourth hat trick of the season to put ODU back up two, 8-6.

Towson answered quickly with the second score of the day for Cloud on the third assist by McNamara. ODU's rookie midfielder and third-leading scorer, Lisa Bernardini, would again put the Lady Monarchs up by a pair with an unassisted goal with just under eight minutes left.

The rest of the half would be dominated by fantastic play from rookie goalkeeper Sarah Geary. Geary notched a new career-high in saves with 19 and allowed a career-low tying seven goals. Geary faced six shots in the final ten minutes and didn't allow a goal, including making a sensational reaching save to her right outside of the crease. She made several key saves late in the second half and held the Tigers to just 2-10 on free-position attempts.

Nicole McMahon would add an insurance goal for ODU with 27 seconds remaining off an assist by Noone, who led the way for ODU with three goals and an assist. Geary was fantastic defensively for ODU with the 19 saves and added a game-high five groundballs and two caused turnovers.

Towson dominated on the draw, winning 14 of the 19 draw controls, and outshot the Lady Monarchs 38-20, but turned the ball over 13 times in the second half as ODU pulled away. The Tigers were led by Jacie Kendall and Katie Cloud with two goals, while Meggie McNamara added three assists.

Old Dominion senior Kelly Kimener continued to add to her career-high in points for a season, with three goals. She pulled into sole possession of 6th all-time in goals with 111, and also ranks 8th all-time in assists with 35 and 6th all-time in points. Jessica Noone joined the top ten all-time in assists with her 29th career helper.

The Lady Monarchs head home for a CAA matchup with the George Mason Patriots this Friday, April 10 at 4:00 pm and then travels to James Madison for an Easter Sunday game at 1:00 pm.